The Lost Art of Sewing: Creativity & Relaxation

With our fast-paced lives, gone are the days when we sit quietly to read a book or create something with our hands. With this wonderful tutorial, Lisa Renata reminds to connect with our creative self and take out your sewing machine!

Dishwasher what? Yes you read correctly. A tutorial for a dishwasher sign. I’m sure you’ve seen the nifty dishwasher magnets, those that help you (and those in your home) know whether your dishes are clean or dirty. So why make one if those nifty magnets are so readily available? Because the door of my dishwasher is full (and I mean full!) of my kids letter and number magnets. Leaving no room for a small magnet to keep us on track, and even if there was room, it wouldn’t stay in place for long.

What is a mama to do?

Get creative!

At first out of necessity my dishwasher sign looked like this:

Now a much nicer to look at sign hangs from my cabinet doorknob.

Would you like to learn how to make one? It is actually pretty easy.

What you need:

Note: You can skip the adhesive web (also known as pellon or transfer web) if you don’t have any handy. You can also hand sew the sign instead of using the sewing machine.

The tutorial:

The first thing you’ll need to do is cut two pieces of fabric for your outer rectangle and two smaller pieces of fabric for your inner rectangle. Like this:

The outer rectangle should measure 5″ x 4″ and the inner rectangle 4″ x 3″. You’ll also need to cut a piece of string/rope/ribbon. The length will depend on how large your doorknob is. I cut mine about 10 inches long.

Once you’ve cut your pieces, you will cut the adhesive web. Though you do not need to use an adhesive web, I decided to use it to make my sing a bit stiffer.

Make sure you cut the adhesive web slightly smaller than your larger rectangle. You will then iron on the webbing on the inside of one of the larger rectangles. Peel the webbing off.

Set handle in place. Make sure to place it low enough to later be sewn over. Add the second large rectangle directly over the first one and handle. Iron together. Both pieces of fabric and straps should be fused together.

Add to each side the smaller rectangle, making sure they are as even as possible. Pin directly over the handle strap. Sew the smaller rectangles on to the larger one by starting at the lower center. Remember you are sewing both smaller rectangles at the same time! Double check that the back one is getting the seam. And don’t forget to take the pins off!

Look, you made a miniature bag! Just kidding!

After you’ve sewn together what seems like a miniature bag, cut off any uneven edges. Now you are ready to write those words that will keep your busy life sane- clean and dirty!

With a pencil outline the word dirty. Using a fabric marker go over the pencil outline. Do the same thing on the other side, but this time use the word clean.

You are done! Now go hang that sign on the cabinet door knob before someone runs that clean dishwasher again!

Lisa Renata is a proud multicultural Latina of Mexican, German and Japanese descent. She holds a degree in cultural Anthropology and is a certified Interpreter. She is also the creator of SaboraCajeta.com, where she shares her craft ideas, and her passion for sewing and photography.